Haven’t you felt the cool air shift as we approach this ravine? This is p\u0159\u00edrodn\u00ed pam\u00e1tka Housle. It is a protected natural monument. Housle is a deep canyon carved by water into sandstone rocks. You will find it on the northwestern edge of Prague in Lysolaje.
Imagine mammoth hunters camping here 30000 years ago. They sought shelter and sustenance. They hunted woolly rhinoceroses and wild horses. Now, Housle offers a different kind of refuge.
In 1982, Housle became a protected area. The aim was to preserve this special landform. It also aimed to protect local wildlife especially insects.
Notice the geological layers exposed in the canyon walls. Older shale lies beneath younger sandstone. This sandstone formed in a prehistoric sea. Look closely. You might spot fossils or animal burrows.
The Housle area changes quickly. The flora and fauna shift with every turn.
A nature trail was created here in 2012. It has ten stops. One is Z\u00e1zra\u010dn\u00e1 stud\u00e1nka. That translates to Miraculous Well. It is the source of the Lysolajsk\u00fd potok stream.
The stream did not always begin here. Until the mid-19th century, it flowed through the entire Housle valley. It gathered water from marshes stretching to Horom\u011b\u0159ice road. The spring was considered miraculous. Legend says it appeared during a drought. Its water was believed to have healing powers. People say prayers to the Virgin Mary brought help in tough times. A local farmer built a chapel to the Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows here in 1863.
Up ahead lies a unique feature the Housle orchard. It was planted just before World War I. It features old varieties of fruit trees from Central Bohemia. These varieties were grown a century ago. You may spot the last examples of protected shrubby cherries.
The Lysolajsk\u00fd sad Housle orchard is a peaceful spot. Families come here for picnics. Local kindergartens use it too. Every spring, they hold the Blossom Festival.
Before today, this area looked different. Old maps show only fields and pastures. The forest we see now was planted in the early 20th century. It might be the first forest ever here. That is why you will not find typical forest plants.
There is a forest theater in the middle of the trail. It was built in 1949. The first play performed was a comedy. Amazingly 400 spectators fit in this space. Theater has a long history in Lysolaje.
The Housle ravine is 20 to 30 meters deep. It stretches 250 meters. From its edge, you can see other parts of Prague. Take a moment to appreciate this view and the unique geological history around you.